Update Your Profile
By Filling In This Form
Update Your Profile
By Filling In This Form
The Otago Boys' High School Foundation
PO Box 11,
Dunedin, New Zealand
Tel +64 3 477 2546
Fax +64 3 477 5468
Otago Boys’ High School Foundation
October 2011 - Newsletter
From the desk of the Foundation’s Acting CEO, Andrew Moffat….
They say a picture is worth a thousand words – so here’s my thousand word message for October:
Thank you Richie McCaw (1994-1998)
With kind regards to all
Andrew Moffat
Since the September newsletter, only one Old Boy has made a pledge to the Foundation – thank you Brian Jackson (1961-1964) who has become a Friend of the Foundation.
Correction: Bruce Carson (1947-51) made a further contribution to the Foundation in September and is an Associate Fellow of the Foundation (our apologies Bruce, we called you an Associate Member in last month’s newsletter in error).
We are genuinely appreciative of the continued support and belief in the Foundation’s objectives shown by these Old Boys. If you wish to find out more about how you can make a pledge or donation please contact the Foundation Office on 0-3-477 2546.
To our local members we need your support with three things:
To all Old Boys, wherever you are, we can revel in the recent success of the All Blacks and their RWC victory. Richie McCaw is an Old Boy of the school (1994–1998) although interestingly, was not captain of the First XV. Congratulations to Richie, and to the whole All Black squad, for serving us proud and for uplifting the national spirit.
Best Wishes
Brent Alexander
President OBHS Old Boys’ Society
The Annual Appeal was launched in July and, whilst donations have now slowed to a trickle we have received over $30,000 from Old Boys in Class Years ranging from 1927 to 2008. One unexpected off shoot of the Appeal was the large number of letters which were returned “gone no address” but for many of these contacts we do have an up to date email address. So, early in November, we will send the Appeal information to those of you with email who did not receive a letter in the post, but we hope would still like the opportunity to make a contribution to your old School. An initial cheque will be handed over to the School at Senior Prizegiving very shortly, but the Appeal will still be ‘alive’ and it is hoped that a further cheque can be written towards the end of the year as more donations are received.
At this stage, the Class Years with donations from the most Old Boys are as follows:
1st 1947 Class Year with 13 donations
2nd 1954 Class Year with 12 donations
3rd Equal 1950 & 1959 Class Years with 11 donations each
Over the weekend of 30 September to 2 October, 16 Old Boys and 7 of their wives or partners gathered at OBHS for a reunion of their 1961 Class Year. Proceedings began with a get-together on the Friday evening at 10 Bar in The Octagon, where old acquaintances were renewed – for some, this was the first meeting in almost 50 years! The chatting and reminiscing was in full flow, and this continued the next morning when the attendees gathered for an assembly in the School Auditorium which of course is vastly different to the old Hall that the Old Boys remembered. However, they did still remember the School song, and after singing this, enjoyed Foundation Acting CEO Andrew Moffat’s review of the events of 1961, and Rector Clive Rennie’s formal welcome back to School. After an enjoyable lunch in the Shand, Clive took the visitors on a tour of the school which highlighted the significant changes over the years, and the ex-Campbell House boys were also taken on a tour of School House.
In the evening, we were back in the Shand for the Reunion Dinner, and again the reminiscing was well underway as everyone took the chance to pore over the old photographs and memorabilia from the Museum which was on display. Our guest speaker was Clive Rennie who took us on an interesting ‘then and now’ journey of comparison between OBHS (and education in general) in the early 60’s to t
he way things are in today’s 21st Century world. Andrew Moffat then showed a couple of movies taken in 1963 at the School’s Centennial celebrations – the movies had no soundtrack but that was not a problem as the Old Boys provided their own running commentary, most of them having been at the celebrations at the time. On Sunday morning there was an opportunity for most of the participants to gather one more time to chat and say farewell, over a brunch, before heading home after what had been an enjoyable weekend all round.
….with a Special Commemorative Envelope. Through the OBHS Foundation you have the opportunity to secure a permanent record of the All Blacks’ recent rugby win by obtaining one of a limited number production of commemorative philatelic envelopes (only 2011 produced for worldwide sales). The front cover features the official envelope for the 1987 KDD World Cup Rugby, official 2011 rugby themed postal stamps from New Zealand Post and the postmark of 23 October 2011 from the Auckland Post office. The back cover features the limited edition number, 1 to 2011.
These souvenirs retail at NZ$25 per envelope and, if you mention “OBHS” when ordering, the Foundation will receive $5 for each envelope sold. Orders are limited to a maximum of 20 envelopes per person please.
Ordering details: payment can be made via cheque payable to New Zealand Events Ltd, PO Box 37479 Parnell, Auckland 1051 with your name/address enclosed. Payment can also be made by Direct Credit to New Zealand Events Ltd at the ASB, account number 12 3075 0250032 00. If paying by Direct Credit, please also email rendell@nzevents.co.nz and quote your surname/amount sent/mailing address. Don’t forget to mention “OBHS”!
(A limited number of official 1987 envelopes are still available also, at $60 each until stocks run out.)
For all Old Boys in the Dunedin or surrounding areas, a luncheon is to be held on Friday 2 December, at 12noon for 12.30pm in The Savoy Reception and Conference Centre, 50 Princes Street, Dunedin. A buffet meal will be served at a cost of $25 per head and a cash bar will operate.
Our guest of honour (and guest speaker) will be one of our most distinguished Old Boys, Brigadier Dr Brian McMahon (1943-1947) who was awarded the 2011 Anzac of the Year Award. This award was established by the RSA in 2010 to recognise the spirit of Anzac evident in New Zealanders today. The successful recipient needs to demonstrate comradeship, compassion, courage and commitment….qualities which are embodied in the tradition of Anzac.
When this year’s award was announced, the RSA National President said that Brian McMahon had demonstrated the spirit of Anzac in his lifetime of service to the army, to the nation, and to the international community as soldier, citizen, doctor and humanitarian.
Brian McMahon has an excellent story to tell, and all local Old Boys are encouraged to make sure this lunch date is in their diary. Seats will be limited so if you wish to attend, please let the Foundation office know by phoning 477 2546, or by emailing info@obhsfoundation.co.nz.
Don’t forget the OBHS Parents’ Association have invited you to an evening of cooking and culinary conversation with Dunedin’s own Master Chef Stu Todd….Stu was 3rd in this year’s New Zealand Master Chef competition and will be in the School Auditorium at 7pm on Friday 18 November 2011.
Finger food will be provided, there will be raffles for sale, and you can take the recipes home afterwards. The ticket price includes a complimentary glass of wine or juice, and drinks will also be on sale in the intervals. So don’t miss out on the chance to have a great night out, and to support the School at the same time. Invite your friends and make a pre-Christmas fun night out of it!
Tickets are available the School Office (ph 477 5527) at a cost of $25 for adults, $15 for school children. Hurry, there are limited seats so be in quick!!
Yes, there have been Old Boys other than Richie in the news lately – here are stories about a couple of them….
Dr Ray King (1944-1948) was announced as Wagga Wagga’s 2011 Citizen of the Year on Australia Day, in January this year. This achievement came 5 years to the day since Dr King was awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) in the Australia Day Honours List for 2006, for his service to the community through a range of organisations involved in maintaining mental health and suicide prevention, and for the development of programs to assist older men. Among other things, Ray was a Rotary District Governor in 2000-01, was an Olympic Torch Bearer in 2000, and became a Fellow of the Australian College of Educators in 1993.
Ray’s Citizen of the Year award was a recognition of the sizeable contribution he has made to his local community – in part the citation reads as follows:. “Since arriving in Wagga Wagga Dr King has worked tirelessly through dedicating long hours, submitting funding requests, and calling on community groups to support his vision for a place for people with a mental illness to use and visit. Commencing in 2003, Dr King drew together other members of the community and set up a committee to find, renovate and establish a building where people with a diagnosed mental illness could find support, and named it Sunflower House. In addition to establishing Sunflower House, Dr King delivered workshops aimed at addressing an increasing rate of youth suicide including prevention, intervention and community education.
Dr King was also the founder and establisher of OMNI – Older Men New Ideas. This was initiated in 2001 and he has set up many OMNI groups in the Riverina area of NSW. OMNI is a meeting of older men to provide moral and social support to each other, to connect with other men and to gain support from other men over the age of 55 who face similar problems.
Dr Ray King is an outstandingly generous man and civic minded citizen.”
Well done, Ray, and congratulations on being so recognised for your community contributions…
From currency trader to Otago farmer, Grant Cochrane (1982-1986) has led an interesting life.
John Key inadvertently played a fairly major role in determining Grant's future. Although not from a farming family, he always had, from a very early age, a passion to go farming. In 1987, Grant saw a television programme that featured currency trading and Mr Key - long before the future prime minister had political aspirations - and decided currency trading would be the quickest route to farm ownership.
After leaving OBHS and then completing a finance degree, he headed to London to start a career in trading. Grant eventually spent 11 years overseas, primarily in London but with stints in Zurich, Singapore, Tokyo and New York, working for various European and American banks. After marrying Andrea in 1999, they decided to return to New Zealand to raise a family and to farm. After several years farming at Totara Hills in South Otago, Grant, Andrea and their two children now live at East Taieri - not far from where Grant grew up at Wyllies Crossing.
As well as maintaining his farming interests, Grant is also managing director of A.G. Foley Ltd, the South Island's largest plumbing firm, is involved in an advisory capacity with a Dunedin-based company that is pioneering commercial food-origin systems, and is now standing for election to the Fonterra Board of Directors. Grant believes that dairying is an exciting industry to be involved in and sees some real challenges in the possibility of being involved with such a large company. "Fonterra's a real New Zealand champion, in my eyes," he says.
Grant, it looks like you don’t intend to let the grass grow under your feet – not when a cow could be turning that grass into milk anyway! All the best with the forthcoming election, and the next challenges in your life…
TOTAL REGISTRATIONS TO DATE 479
MAKE SURE YOU ARE PART OF THIS
HISTORICAL EVENT BY REGISTERING NOW!
Contact the Foundation CLICKING HERE or call +64 3 477 2546, and leave a message. Include your full name and years of attendance.
As fuel prices remain high the OBHS Foundation has an exclusive Fuel Card offer available to all Old Boys, past Staff and their immediate family members. All Foundation card holders receive 5 cents per litre discount to the national pump price for petrol and diesel. Discounted petrol and diesel can be purchased at all BP, RD Petroleum and most Gasoline Alley retail sites along with Truck Stops.
HOW IT WORKS:
If today the national price for a litre of 91 octane is $2.159 cents, the cost to you would be $2.109 cents. If on the West Coast 91 is priced at $2.389 cents per litre - those with Foundation fuel cards will still pay only$2.109 cents per litre. That’s a 28 cpl saving!
This offer is open to all Otago Boys' High School - Old Boys, staff, parents of a student and their immediate family members so please pass this on to anyone you think may well benefit from joining the programme.
CLICK HERE TO FIND OUT MORE AND START SAVING ON ALL YOUR FUEL PURCHASES!
Individual Application – Click here
Limited Companies Application – Click here
We extend our condolences to the families of the following Old Boys:
Harry Gapper (1933-1936) who passed away aged 93 on 4 October in Auckland.
Ross Haig (1972-1977) who passed away aged 52 on 17 September in Dunedin.
Kenneth Lindsay (1938-1939) who passed away aged 88 on 5 October in Invercargill. Ken was father of Bill Lindsay (1962-1965) deceased, John Lindsay (1970-1974) and James Lindsay (1970-1974) deceased.
Graham Pirie (1959-1960) who passed away in Waimate on 11 October
Rev Norman Smith (1936-1940) who passed away in New Plymouth on 8 October
Vern Vercoe (1939-1940) of Gore, who passed away in Invercargill on 17 October
We also extend our sympathies to:
Michael Chittock (1974-1976) whose mother, Jeanette Chittock, passed away on 28 September.
Leo Cowie (1981-1982) whose father, William Cowie, passed away on 30 September.
Jim Dagg (1937-1939) whose son John passed away on 9 October
Garry Early (1977-1982) whose father-in-law, Lewis Wahrlich, passed away on 3 October.
Ian Hope (1957-1960) and his wife Trudy whose daughter Helen passed away in Dunedin on 10 October
Trevor Laing (1961-1964) whose mother-in-law Myra Dewar passed away in Dunedin on 22 October
Martin McCormack (1994-1998), Aidan McCormack (1996-2000) and Regan McCormack (2002-2006) deceased, whose mother, Kay McCormack, passed away on 28 September. Martin, Aidan and Regan are sons of Reginald McCormack (1972-1973).
Winston McDonald (1954-1957) whose mother Greta passed away in Dunedin on 16 October
Damon Norden (1991-1996) whose grandmother, Dawn Norden, passed away on 21 September.
Mike Parkes (1981-1985) whose mother-in-law, Kay Robertson, passed away on 3 October.
The family of Raymond Reekie (1938) deceased, whose wife, Moira Reekie, passed away on 5 October, in Blenheim.
Blair Scoullar (1993-1997) and Karl Scoullar (1993-1998) whose father Bruce passed away in Dunedin on 9 October
Peter Sims (1996-2000) and Richard Sims (1998-1999) whose grandmother, Elizabeth Sims, passed away on 24 September
Gerald White (1941) whose daughter Susan passed away in Dunedin on 10 October
Graeme Wilson (1962-1964) whose mother Joan Winn passed away in Timaru on 16 October
Newsletter researched and compiled by Julie Cheyne and Andrew Moffat
The OBHS Foundation greatly acknowledges the support of the Otago Daily Times
from which some of the articles and photos in this publication are sourced.
The Otago Boys’ High School Foundation acknowledges the assistance it receives from Konica Minolta with all of its office printing requirements
